Interview: Chase Dehart

Now, I can’t talk to you without touching on Cult. Now that the whole shake up is in the history books, how difficult/stressful/exciting was the time leading up to the new brand?

I don’t even know man, I really don’t remember it getting stressful. I’m so tight with Robbie that I knew all the shit going on with him and The Building. I knew he was getting screwed, so when he told me his plans, I was like fuck it dude, let’s fucking go. We have more than enough knowledge and drive to have fun with this and make it what we want, so why not you know? Why wouldn’t we do this if this is how you’re feeling? It really just went from being a slight difficult decision, to being one of the best things that has ever happened to us. I think the first week it made complete sense. I seriously think Robbie had so much relief the second it happened, and that just made us all feel the same way. We were just relieved that all that tension and bullshit was gone, it was just time to move forward and push ourselves to be happy harder than we ever had, and we did man, I think it shows. I think everyone sees how happy and relieved we are. We don’t want any chips on our shoulder, we just want to ride our bikes and vibe with BMX.

Your guys’ dedication to Cult is unmistakable, and all you guys took a big difficult controversial step. Going in, was there a sense of “this is a make it or break it” situation?

Yeah, absolutely. Any new company is in a make it or break it situation. You don’t just come up with a company out of thin air and have it take care of you the rest of your life, you have to put so much into that, you have to make it your baby, you have to take care of it and work for it as hard as you possibly can. It’s going to be a long time before we have our legs stretched, and that’s perfect for us, we’re all work horses, we all live for this. We don’t want our legs stretched, we want to be on our grind every day, furthering our company, furthering BMX and spreading it every chance we can. Whether it’s getting bikes into skateparks we’re not allowed in, or getting the major companies to see the worth in BMX, all that shit, BMX has such a long way to go. If you got your legs stretched now, you’re an idiot, you’re holding us back.

Your part in Let Em Talk had the excitement and energy of a new kid who was just coming up into BMX, which you are not. However, the part showed that you went in. Tell us a little about filming for that.

Again man, we were just so excited. We had so much new shit going on and I had JUST filmed my STAY FIT section. No one realizes that myself, Dak and Hawk had JUST finished our STAY FIT sections when we started filming for LET’EM TALK, and we got nothing out of it because of all the bullshit going on, it clouded the video. All the bullshit clouded the work we put in for STAY FIT, and we felt nothing from it.

So now we were going into LET’EM TALK, again this all came out in the same year, so we were just eager. We were riding more than ever, on our game more than ever and we knew what work we had in front of us to get CULT anywhere comfortable, so it was on. I remember going into our first CULT trip, I had just took one of the worst falls I have took. I smashed my face so bad at my local park, didn’t get my hands out or nothing, just clean smashed my face and had a concussion and knocked out my dentures and some surrounding teeth. My face was like a balloon. I remember just being so pissed, because I knew our first trip was coming up a week later. I stayed off my bike that whole week, just telling myself it was nothing and that it was go time as soon as I got on that trip. So I think as soon as I got on that trip, I had something to prove to myself… just to bounce back and know that it was nothing. I think I filmed half my part on that trip man! I remember coming off that trip so eager for the next one, I just had a new fire and I knew it had everything to do with Cult. I know if that fall had happened during some bullshit, it would have slowed me up and taken me a bit to bounce back. However, it happened during one of the crucial points of my career, and I didn’t want anyone to think I was slipping, and know I was still on it more than I was in STAY FIT.

How did Dak go down in that first clip of your section?

Haha! He was on a skateboard trying to film me get a line, and the whole time there was a huge crack. For some reason it never got him, but that one time it did and I looked back and seen him on the ground. Dak caught the camera luckily and says it as I was coming over to him. I’m awkward as fuck on camera, and it hit me that it was on, so I was like “is the camera on?” all awkward haha… like, “fuck it’s filming me”.

Any good stories about filming with Navaz?

Navaz is the man, he’s such a hard worker. It’s such a group effort filming with him because he want’s it to turn out good just as much as you do. He’s putting so much into it, and it shows man. He’s the best out there in my opinion and many others. He don’t take long to set-up, he don’t ask you where you’re going a hundred times and you have to wait and sit there so he can figure out what you’re doing, he just knows, he’s just right with you like alright let’s do it. I don’t have any stories off the top of my head. I know later I will think of one and be like shit, why couldn’t I remember that? But yeah, Navaz is the man. I’m so lucky to be able to film with him, he’s one of the few who can appreciate what I want to film.

What’s next?

We have already been on two or three trips for the new Cult video, it’s coming along so strong. The team is still hungry and just itching to ride every chance they can. We’re trying to take our time on this one. Let Em Talk came out quick, I’d say 3-4 months, so we’re trying to get this one really going and show our full potential. Luckily in the middle of filming I have tons of time to do other stuff, do trips for Etnies and Cinema, do small Cult trips to get to shops and to the locals and things like that. Just always on the go man, even if I”m at home. I’m on the go and trying to do anything I can for the companies and people who are supporting me and allowing me to live this life. I owe anything I have to offer to them.

Thanks Chase! Anything you would like to add be fore we wrap this up?

Really cheesy and typical, but I just want to thank my sponsors and friends. I seriously could never thank them enough. Cult, Etnies, Cinema, Dans Comp, Fox, Quintin and Chris Cole. I thank Chris Cole so much, he’s really taught us so much and has just been a true friend. My family and my girlfriend, they put up with every bit of bullshit I throw at them. They encourage me to further things that are so out there and things that seem so unrealistic, they encourage me to push for that and believe in me. All my friends, my close friends are everything to me. I’ve lost a lot of friends man, R.I.P to all my friends I have lost, and to the ones who are still out there, I just wish the best for them man. I just hope they see something in life again to bounce them back, they really need a new push. And thanks Defgrip for the interview and every single person who has supported me, I’m no one with out you. Thank you so much!!!!!!

I live in Easton, MD and it is the exact same way….. shitty, but it makes you appreciate riding more.

Lucas

i think anyone from a small town can relate to this, but i would be in cali in a minute if the opportunity arose

AZ

Chase D, is the man!

doug

hell i can totally confide in what chase is saying. i hate riding made to ride stuff expect for a few skatepark ramps and i like scoping out my own spots cause i like to do something new and fresh instead of trying to one up some one at a more unknown spot

Great & insightful interview. Chase definitely seems like a genuine individual. Thanks for putting this together!

Dave L

Personally, I don’t get all the hype around this kid. Seriously who does he think he’s fooling when he says that he didn’t realize that things were bad at fit? Stop reading into his bullshit kids, he runs 30″ wide bars and grabs at the crossbar. Gross. Sorry but this self rightious egomainac needs to go away.

Lucas

^ i think you need to go away, chase d can stay

James

Lucas, you’re a dork.

Ethan

I love this. All riders can relate to this. Making something out of basically nothing and making it awesome

chase

lucas, i did say i knew things were bad at fit, i said “being so tight with robbie, i knew what was going on with him and the building” you could find that out by reading the interview..

Every kid at my local park is jocking Chase D and Nathan Williams so hard I want to puke. The difference is they wouldn’t shred just any old spot and definitely not without their beanie and camera for maximum coolness.

matt

that was a really good interview… its great to see a REAL interview with someone who actually has something to say thats worth reading. the mike hinkens interview on espn was a really good read too.

Richie

Still riding the original fit dehart frame<3

chase

thank you for all the positive comments, seriously means alot to me to read! i’m really sorry Lucas!! i confused your name with DAVE L, real sorry about that!

Collin B

I loved this now my dans package needs to get to my house so i can ride.

chris

DAVE L IS A FAG

alex

chase dehart always in my heart and come to spain man

J. North

I know the same struggles that Chase faces with riding crappy jersey street “spots”. I live only a half hour from the dude and he couldn’t have said it better.

Dave R

Chase is my biggest inspiration when I ride. I am proud to say I ride the same spots he does. Hopefully I’ll see you in Princeton some day man!

will

dave l is a queer. chase dehart is the best rider out there all his lines are sick and creative.